Corey Chandler’s two-year roller-coaster ride with the Rutgers University men’s basketball team has come to a screeching halt.

The mercurial 6-foot-2 guard, who was supposed to be the cornerstone recruit for Fred Hill’s Scarlet Knights, was dismissed from the program on Tuesday for violating athletic department policies.

Sources close to the program said multiple missteps by Chandler led to the move.

“We wish Corey well as he moves forward,” Hill said in a statement. “We consider this a family matter and there will be no further comment.”

Chandler is the third player to leave the program unexpectedly in the past nine months. Freshman center Christian Morris transferred in December and sophomore forward Earl Pettis transferred in May.

Beset by disciplinary problems as a freshman and sophomore, Chandler appeared poised to transfer in March but changed his mind. Undoubtedly talented, with Big East-quality explosiveness, he had trouble finding a role on the court and struggled to take care of the basketball. His departure leaves the Scarlet Knights thinner and less talented at guard, but questions lingered as to where Chandler would play after junior college point guard James Beatty committed in July.

A second-team All-State selection coming out of Newark East Side High School, Chandler was the first major recruit to commit to Hill after he succeeded Gary Waters as the Scarlet Knights’ head coach in 2006.

He performed well as a freshman, averaging 11.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 25 minutes per game, but his role changed last year with the addition of freshman guard Mike Rosario.

A McDonald’s All-American from St. Anthony High School, Rosario stepped into the shooting guard slot and displaced Chandler, who tried his hand at point guard and small forward but struggled at both spots. He finished his sophomore season averaging 7.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 20 minutes and shot just 32.9 percent from the field while committing 80 turnovers.

HOOPS HAVEN SAYS: This is a big blow to the program perception-wise and a marginal blow basketball-wise.

Once Rosario came on board, Chandler never seemed to be on the same page with his teammates and coaches. He tried point guard but was too sloppy. He tried small forward but was too small. Now, with the addition of James Beatty and Jonathan Mitchell this year, Chandler was in no-man’s land.

Still, he has Big East-quality talent and Hill has to take some blame for not being able to rein him in. And with three players leaving unexpectedly over the past nine months, it gives off the vibe of a program in turmoil.

IN OTHER RUTGERS NEWS: Former Lehigh head coach Sal Mentesana has joined Rutgers’ staff as an assistant coach. He displaces Craig Carter, who becomes recruiting coordinator.

In 15 seasons at the helm of Lehigh (1996-2002) and East Stroudsburg (1987-1996), Mentesana posted a record of 176-242. The 61-year-old Providence College graduate has long-standing ties to Hill and his uncle, NBA coach Brian Hill.

Mentesana figures to be an Xs and Os consigliere the way former Nebraska head coach Danny Nee was supposed to be last season.

HOOPS HAVEN SAYS: Some feathers got ruffled here. Multiple sources close to the program indicated that Hill originally wanted to demote Jim Carr to the recruiting coordinator position but that Carr adamantly resisted, so Hill moved Carter there instead. Carr had a strong year on the recruiting trail, but former RU standout Carter is a favorite son and the connection to heralded high school forward Tobias Harris. Also, Rutgers now has no minority full assistants, which may not play well in some quarters.